Arizona State will take on the USC Trojans in each team’s fourth game of the season and ASU’s last-ever Pac-12 conference opener.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!ASU is coming off its first home shutout loss since 1988, a 29-0 defeat by Fresno State. USC had a bye week last week and last played Stanford, defeating the Cardinal 56-10 at home. This will be the first road game of the season for the Trojans.
Game information
No. 5 USC (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) at Arizona State (1-2)
Time: Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. MST
Location: Mountain America Stadium
How to Watch: FOX
How to Listen: ESPN 98.7 FM, SiriusXM 132 OR 198
Line: USC -34.5, O/U 62
Series History
USC leads the all-time series 25-14. The two teams played last in 2022 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans defeated the Sun Devils 42-25 in this contest behind Caleb Williams going 27-for-37 for 348 yards and three touchdowns.
This could be the last time these two matchup in a while with ASU moving to the Big 12 next season and USC to the Big Ten.
USC Game-by-Game Starters/Game Notes
Click here to see USC’s full game notes.
USC Game-by-Game Starters (via USC Game Notes)
USC Stats
USC Offensive and Team Stats (via USC Game Notes)
USC Defensive Stats (via USC Game Notes)
USC Stat Leaders Ranked Nationally (via USC Game Notes)
USC Key Notes
* USC returns 14 starters, but the Trojans still went out and loaded up in the transfer portal and with talented freshman. ESPN ranked USC’s 2023 freshmen and transfer classes combined No. 1 in the entire country.
* USC’s first three games have been against severely outmatched opponents (could be the same for ASU). Here are the results:
- 56-28 victory over San Jose State
- 66-14 victory over Nevada
- 56-10 victory over Stanford
* The Trojans have built potentially the most loaded offense in the country around a generational QB in Caleb Williams. Most of USC’s second and even some third stringers would start on other Power 5 teams.
* USC’s offense has easily been the best in the country. “The Trojan offense is No. 1 in the nation for scoring offense (59.3), tied for No. 1 in the nation in red zone offense (1.000), No. 3 in the nation in total offense (580.7), No. 4 in the nation for team passing efficiency (211.06) and No. 4 in the nation for passing offense (395.7).” (USC Game Notes)
* Caleb Williams has only needed to play 8 quarters is USC’s first three games and has still dominated, completing the highest yards per pass attempt and having the highest points responsible per game in the country.
* The Trojans are led by 39-year-old head coach Lincoln Riley, who has established himself as one of the best in the country since starting off coaching at Oklahoma in 2017. Riley is in his second year with USC after coming over from Oklahoma. He is 14-3 with the Trojans and 69-13 all-time. During his time as a head coach, Riley has coached three Heisman Trophy winners, had three College Football Playoff appearances, won four Big 12 Championships and was the 2018 Big 12 Coach Of The Year.
* USC’s ground game is much improved, and the Trojans feature a three-man attack led by South Carolina transfer MarShawn Lloyd and returning senior Austin Jones.
* The Trojans have arguably the best receivers in the country, led by Tajh Washington, Mario Williams, Dorian Singer (Arizona transfer), Brenden Rice and freshman Zachariah Branch.
* Five-star freshman tight end Duce Robinson from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix has led the way in that position group, followed by Lake McCree.
* USC features three honorable mention All-Pac-12 players from last season on its offensive line.
* USC and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch run a 4-2-5 defense.
* After being abysmal at the end of the season last year, all eyes are on the Trojan defense. They have stepped up to the task so far this year and posted six forced fumbles, eight sacks, and 27.0 total tackles for loss (eighth in the country).
* USC does not need its defense to be elite, all they have to do is their job and not allow too many scores because of how dynamic the Trojan offense is.
* The freshman Branch has been an amazing return man for the Trojans this season, recording both a punt and kick return touchdown. He averages 41.7 yards on three kickoff returns and 22.6 yards on seven kickoff returns.
USC Players to Watch
#13 QB Caleb Williams (Jr.)
- 2023 Stats: 55-of-70 for 878 yards, 12 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in only 133 snaps played
- Favorite to win the Heisman Trophy for second straight year
#4 WR Mario Williams (Jr.)
- 2023 Stats: 10 receptions for 111 yards
#15 WR Dorian Singer (Jr., Arizona transfer)
- 2023 Stats: eight receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns
#16 WR Tajh Washington (Sr.)
- 2023 Stats: nine receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns
#1 WR Zachariah Branch (Fr.)
- 2023 Stats: nine receptions for 110 yards and averages 135.7 all-purpose yards per game (407 in total)
#2 WR Brenden Rice (Sr.)
- 2023 Stats: five receptions for 124 yards and three touchdowns
#19 TE Duce Robinson (Fr.)
- 2023 Stats: 11 catches for 186 yards and one touchdown
#0 RB MarShawn Lloyd (Jr., South Carolina transfer)
- 2023 Stats: 25 rushes for 195 yards and two touchdowns
#6 RB Austin Jones (Sr.)
- 2023 Stats: 14 rushes for 106 yards and three touchdowns
#51 DE Solomon Byrd (Sr.)
- 2023 Stats: nine tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles
#10 EDGE Jamil Muhammad (Sr., Georgia State transfer)
- 2023 Stats: seven tackles, two for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one QB hurry, two forced fumbles
#19 DB Jaylin Smith (Jr.)
- 2023 Stats: 20 tackles, 3.5 for loss
#7 SS Calen Bullock (Jr.)
- 2023 Stats: 12 tackles, four pass breakups
Past Stories
Kenny Dillingham on How to Contain Caleb Williams: “You Can’t”
Arizona State vs. USC Will Be Headlined With a Halftime Drone Show
Stay tuned for more coverage tomorrow during the game and a preview/prediction article beforehand.
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Brendan Mau is a Phoenix Suns insider and college sports reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
